During a preliminary hearing, Colleen Rooney’s lawyer, David Sherborn, said Rebecca Vardy and her agent, Caroline Watt, had exchanged “a number of insulting reports” about Rooney.
Mr Sherborn told the court that Rooney’s lawyers had asked for more information from WhatsApp reports between Vardi and Ms Watt, but said Ms Watt’s phone had fallen “unfortunately” in the North Sea after like the boat she was on, she hit a wave shortly after a previous hearing.
“[It was] “Unfortunately, it was a short time after the court ordered the phone to be searched,” he said.
Vardi’s lawyers said she had “nothing to hide”.
Ms Watt was required to testify in the trial, but it was recently found that she was “unfit” to participate, and she also withdrew her written evidence.
Vardy’s lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, told the court, “We just don’t know what the real position is on Ms. Watt … She’s not communicating with anyone.”
Mr Sherborn said in written arguments that Ms Watt was a key witness and said “only half of the story” could be investigated without her.
“The defendant’s position is that Ms. Watt’s concerns about testifying are due to the realization that her evidence is false and she is afraid she will not be tested on it,” he said.
Mr Tomlinson said Mr Sherborn’s complaint was “a complete misconception”.
Mr Sherborn also asked for some documents from News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun.
He claims that the revelation related to Vardi in the legal dispute was affected by a “series of unfortunate events”, which means that the offer of information from journalists was a “last resort”.
Adam Volanski QC, representing NGN, described the disclosure offer by The Sun as a “fishing expedition”.
The judge hearing the case, Ms. Justice Steyn, granted Rooney’s request for the documents, but only related to the communication between Vardi and Ms. Watt and The Sun journalist Andrew Halls.
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